Over-Easy Egg Fold Over – One egg cooked in Pam over-easy, squashed onto one slice of toasted Ezekiel bread, folded over, with ½ cup fresh strawberries on the side.

Because we are born of God we have His DNA. Our righteousness is not because of our works, but because of His goodness and because we are of Him. If we’re going to change, we have to understand who God is because our identity is in Him.

We also have to know why we are here, and that He has a plan and purpose for our lives. Proverbs 29:18 says, “Where there is no vision, the people perish.” The New International Version says, “Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint.” In other words, they run wild or fail to practice self-control. If we want to change, we must have restraint or self-control. If we don’t know why we’re here, what we’re called to do or who we’re called to be, we’re not going to be restrained in our eating or any other area. But when we catch the vision of our purpose and destiny, it produces the restraint we need to bring change.

God’s love has the power to change us. His love is the weight of His divine presence that resides inside us. It is a force that never fails, fades or becomes obsolete. It doesn’t matter if trends change, or the economy fails. Love never quits because God never quits. If your life, family, job or whatever it is you’re seeking God about is not changing, more than likely it’s because you haven’t experienced the love of God and His Anointing in that area.

If you’re having financial trouble, the only way to enjoy the blessing of prosperity is to experience God and His love in the area of finances. Spending time with Him is spending time with the real Provider. Wealth is not a blessing unless you know God. It will destroy your life if you don’t know Him—it will amplify your sin. God wants us to know Him.

Experiencing God’s love and Anointing is how I got delivered from overeating. When I was at the lowest point in my struggle, after having spent most of my life defeated—doing diet after diet, failing, gaining weight, losing it and then gaining it back—I realized I was in bondage.

Food had become an idol. I thought about it all the time. My self-esteem was based on how I looked and how much I weighed, and I judged my righteousness on whether or not I ate the right foods and exercised. On the inside I said, God, if You will deliver me from this, I’ll tell people how You did it. I made a decision. I knew God was good and that my freedom was in His Word, even though it didn’t specifically talk about losing weight.

 In my next post, I’ll share about the revelation of Gods’ love and how it is His power that can help change you, just like it did for me.

            What do we need to empower us to change? Sure, we need knowledge, but knowledge alone isn’t enough. We need the power of God that effects change. Take  Christian weight loss, for example. We all know how to lose weight: move more, eat less. But how many are actually doing it? To be truly free from the bondage of weight we have to allow the Holy Spirit to change and empower us to go higher—spirit, soul and body.

            Change is deep within the purpose of why God created us. The power to change is within His glory—His presence. A revelation of His glory, of His honor and of the power of His love is enough to change anything. That’s what we need if we are to change.

            We are from God. He created us in His image, so we come out of Him, just like natural children come out of their parents and are a combination of their DNA. When we wonder, How do I get God to help me change? We are forgetting that we were created out of Him. We were predestined before the earth was ever created to be like Him. His power is in us.

            When we hear things repeated over and over they can become so familiar to us that we miss the revelation. One thing we often hear is that we are God’s children and He is in us. But are we really getting it? When I look at my three children, I see in them a combination of my husband, John, and me. In one I see more of me, and in another I see more of John. They have our DNA—they’re from us.

              Next time I’ll share on how we can and should identify with God and His DNA.

            It’s a good idea to wear clothing that breathes. Try layering mesh tanks over cotton/spandex bra tops. Not only will they provide good coverage and breathe-ability, but also this combination will offer great support and style.

            Comfort, of course, is a necessity when choosing your walking wardrobe. Look for shirts and shorts that move with you. This is not the time to try and squeeze into last year’s shorts. Your clothing should not bind you or inhibit your workout in any way. For example, make sure your shirt is large enough that you can swing your arms their full range of motion.

            If the sun is shining, wear a sun visor or a cap to shield your eyes from its bright rays. Look for a visor that has a built-in sweatband. That will keep your head cooler, as well as prevent the sweat from rolling into your eyes.   

            If you have “a fanny pack,” you might want to strap it around your waist, and store a small bottle of water in it. That way, it will be handy for quick drinks throughout your workout.

These Shoes Are Made For Walking

            No matter what the weather, good walking shoes are a must. Your shoes should provide good support and offer a great fit. If not, you’ll experience blisters, calluses and all-around discomfort.

            So, what makes a shoe perfect for walking? Good walking shoes should:

            •Have arch supports

            •Elevate the heel one-half to three-quarters of an inch above the sole of the foot.

            •Have uppers made of materials that breathe (Leather or nylon mesh works well.)

            •Have heavy rubber or crepe rubber soles.

 Heat Exhaustion and Heat Stroke Warning Signs

 * Nausea or vomiting

* Feeling weak

* Feeling thirsty and moderately uncomfortable (later you may lose the desire to drink)

* Headaches

* Increased pulse rate

* Rapid breathing

* Chest pains

* Flushed complexion, leading to a pale or even bluish complexion in advanced stages

* Clammy-feeling skin

* Noticeably decreased volumes of urine (urine may have lost its clear color as well)

 More advanced signs of overexposure to heat include:

* Cramps or painful muscle spasms

* Slowed reaction times

* Dizziness and even fainting (heat stress may lead to convulsions or a coma)

* No longer sweating

* Unexplained silliness

* Confusion

             Heat stroke occurs when the body’s core temperature climbs above 106 degrees Fahrenheit. With heat stroke, sweating stops and the body’s cooling mechanisms shut down. Brain damage may occur in 6 minutes. Coma and death could result. (American College of Sports Medicine)

Please be watchful over yourselves!  You can read my previous posts – The Heat is On! (3 parts) on more ideas about working out in the heat.

Fresh strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, or raspberries 

Low-fat yogurt  (vanilla is realy good with this)

I was raised eating healthy foods, and I knew a lot about giving your body the proper nutrition. But I didn’t know about how to put on muscle mass, and build up the physical man. In part to the information that I learned through Marty, I am now able to exercise right, feel great, and put on muscle! Thank you, Marty! 

David

Here are some water facts to get you motivated.

•Water lubricates and cushions around the joints.

•Water serves as a shock absorber for your eyes and spine.

•Water maintains blood volume and proper muscle tone.

•Water helps you lose weight and is a natural appetite suppressant.

•Water can improve the appearance of your skin.

•Water is a great treatment for fluid retention.

•Water keeps you from being dehydrated. (Did you know that one of the most common reasons for headaches and anxiety attacks is dehydration?)

Give yourself this quick dehydration test. Grab the skin on the back of your hand, pinch it pretty hard and release it. Watch how quickly your skin bounces back. If your skin doesn’t return quickly, you are probably dehydrated.

Ultimately, you should drink six to eight glasses of water every day, but when it’s really hot and you’re sweating more profusely during your workouts, you need to increase your water intake.  Try dividing your weight in half and drink that many ounces of water a day. That should be your goal.

If you have trouble drinking 64 ounces of water, here’s a trick. Outsmart yourself. Buy one of those 33-ounce water bottles and drink two of those a day.  Somehow, consuming only two bottles of water as opposed to eight separate glasses makes it seem like less water. It’s also a good idea to keep a water bottle in the car, next to your computer at work, in the kitchen, on your nightstand and anywhere else you find yourself throughout the day. That way, you’ll have a water bottle handy all day as you sip your way to 64 ounces. Try it!

Also, if you can’t stand the taste of tap water, try a bottled version of the wet stuff. If that doesn’t help, you might add a slice of lime or lemon to an ice-cold glass of water. Adding more water to your diet is another step toward a healthy, strong body. So, are you ready? On your mark, get set, DRINK!

At 225 pounds, I could hardly keep up but I never stopped and I kept my eyes on the lady in the back row of the workout DVD telling myself “if she can do it, so can I.”  I so appreciate the way you created that video:  with all body types and all fitness levels included.  I’ve been enjoying listening to your CD.

Thanks, Marty, and everyone involved, for doing this!  

 Lisa